Combined shoulder strap and handgrip



July 5, 1966 G. w. BUSH 3,259,285

COMBINED SHOULDER STRAP AND HANDGRIP Filed June 28J 1965 34 a f; KW

#WH/raf, GEORGE W. BUSH MMMW United States Patent O 3,259,285 COMBINEDSHOULDER STRAP AND HANDGRH George W. Bush, Haddoniield, NJ., assignor toPhiladelphia Handle Company, Inc., Camden, NJ., a corporation of NewJersey Filed June 28, 1965, Ser. No. 467,567 6 Claims. (Cl. 224-46) Thisinvent-ion relates to a combined shoulder strap and handgrip for use incarrying photographic equipment, portable radios, test equipment,handbags and similar articles.

Heretofore there has not been a satisfactory means to convert a shoulderstrap to a handgrip. The usual method involves the removal of a strapsection and a rebuckling of the straps which remain attached to thecarrying case. This does not shorten the handle suiciently to render ita true handgrip and furthermore is uncomfortable since the buckleengages the palm.

The primary object of the invention is to overcome these disadvantagesby providing a construction which makes it possible quickly to convertfrom a shoulder strap length to a regular handle height above thecarrying case and with a smooth, comfortable and attractive handgrip.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined shoulder strapand handgrip wherein the handgrip is slidably mounted on the shoulderstrap `and includes a plurality of spaced grooves which open through theside thereof and are adapted to receive portions of the strap to therebyshorten the same and position the handgrip at regular handle heightabove the carrying case.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a cornbined shoulderstrap and handgrip of the character described in which the grooves arecontoured to allow easy placement of the shoulder strap portions thereinbut act to releasably retain said portions lin the grooves.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent asthe following description proceeds in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

FIG. l, is a perspective view of the handle illustrating the handgripposition;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the shoulder strapposition;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the handle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the handgrip portion as shown inFIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of FIG. 5.

Specific reference is now made to the drawings wherein similar referencecharacters are used for corresponding elements throughout.

Indicated generally `at 10 is a suitable carrying case, portablephotographic equipment, radio, test equipment and the like to the sides12 of which is pivotally attached by any conventional means, such as arivet, headed screw or the like 14, a shoulder strap 16 which ispreferably but not necessarily flat, of rectangular cross-section, andmade of suitable materials, such as liexible plastics, leather or cloth.

A handgrip 18 is provided which is preferably but not necessarilyrectangular in cross-section, is made of an extruded hard plastic, issmooth, and is of a length approximating that of the carrying case sothat in the handgrip position of FIG. 1, better comfort and appearanceresults.

The handgrip is molded or otherwise made to contain upper and lowercontinuous walls 20 and 22, a continuous connecting wall 24 on one sidethereof, a discontinuous wall on the other side consisting of acontinuous lower "ice portion 26 and a plurality of vertically spacedthrough slots 23 and 30 thereabove which are Coextensive with thehandgrip, and a plurality of vertically spaced bars which arecoextensive with the handgrip, one of which 32 extends between thesidewall 24 and the other sidewall portion 26, and the other of which 34extends between the sidewall 24 and the portion 36 of the other sidewallwhich is located between the slots 28 and 30.

The sidewalls 24 and 26, the lower wall 22 and the bar 32 define betweenthem a channel 38 'which is coextensive with the handgrip and is closedat its top, bottom and sides but open at its ends and through which aportion 40 of the Ishoulder `strap slidably extends. The sidewall 24 andopposite sidewall portions 26 and 36 and the bars 32 and 34 dene betweenthem a groove 42 which is coextensive with the handgrip, is closed atits top and bottom and on one side, but is open at its other sidethrough slot 28 and is open at its ends. Similarly, the upper portion ofthe sidewall 24, the upper portion of the opposite sidewall 44, theupper wall 20 and the upper bar 34 dene between them an upper groove 46which is coextensive with the handgrip, is closed at its top and bottomand on one side, but is open at its other side, through slot 30, and isopen at its ends. It will be noted that the channel 38 and the grooves42 and 46 have substantially rounded longitudinal sides whereas thestrap 16 is substantially rectangular in cross-section.

In use, when the carrying member is used as a shoulder strap, as in FIG.2, the handgrip 20 is slid on the strap 16 to :a position which can becomfortably gripped by the hand on the same side as the shoulder overwhich the strap is slung. When one wishes to convert the member to aregula-r handle, he takes the longest portion of the strap and places itinto the lower groove 42 by pushing it through the slot 28. This forms aportion 48 which extends lengthwise through the lower groove 42 whichhas a loop 50 that is disposed outside one of its ends. The remainder ofthe strap is then placed into the upper groove 46 by pushing it throughthe slot 30. This forms a portion 52 which extends lengthwise throughthe upper groove 46 which has a loop 54 that is disposed outside theother end of the handgrip. In so doing, the strap is eifectivelyshortened so that two portions 56 and 58 remain attached to the carryingcase, see FIG. l, and the handgrip 18 extends substantially parallel tothe upper wall 60 of the case at a comfortable hand carrying distancetherefrom. It will be understood that by varying the length of thehandgrip and providing a plurality of grooves, the distance of thehandgrip from the case can be varied as desired. It should also be notedthat the thickness of the Istrap is less than the height of grooves 42and 46 but exceeds that of the slots 28 and 30 so that when the strap ispushed through the slots the latter are opened wider by exing action ofthe handgrip at the slots, and when the strap is disposed in the groovesit is effectively retained therein since it requires a positive forceagain to withdraw it through the slots.

While a preferred embodiment of the 4invention has here been shown anddescribed, a skilled artisan may make minor variations without departingfrom the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.It will be understood that the term carrying case used in the claims isintended to generically cover portable photographic equipment, radios,test equipment, handbags and the like.

I claim:

1. A combined shoulder strap and handgrip comprising an elongated strapadapted for connection at its ends to a carrying case, a handgripincluding `an elongated member having a channel extending therethroughand slidably receiving one portion of said strap, and a plurality ofVertically spaced grooves above said channel extending through saidmember and opening through one side thereof, said grooves being adaptedto removably receive lengths of the remaining portion of said strap tothereby shorten the overall length of said strap and position saidmember substantially midway between the ends of said strap.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the height of said openings ofsaid grooves through said one side of said member is less than thethickness of said strap so that said openings are flexed upon insertioninto or removal of said strap from said grooves.

3. A combined shoulder strap and handgrip comprising an elongated strapadapted for connection at its ends to a carrying case, a handgripincluding an elongated member having upper and l-ower walls, oppositesidewalls, vertically spaced bars therebetween and slots opening throughone sidewall between said bars and between said upper wall and anadjacent bar, said lower wall, adjacent bar and sidewalls deiiningbetween them an open-ended channel coextensive with said member andslidably receiving a portion of ysaid strap, and the remaining structureproviding vertically spaced grooves ooextensive with said member whichare open at their ends and at said one sidewall through said slots, saidgrooves being adapted to removably receive lengths of the remainingportion of said strap through said slots and the open ends of saidgroove to thereby shorten the overall length of said strap and positionsaid member substantially midway between the ends of said strap.

4. A combined shoulder strap and handgrip compri-sing an elongated strapadapted for connection at its ends to a carrying case, a handgripincluding an elongated member having upper and lower walls7 oppositesidewalls7 vertically spaced bars therebetween and slots opening throughone sidewall between said bars and between said upper wall and anadjacent bar, `said slots being narrower than the thickness of saidstrap, said lower wall, adjacent bar and sidewalls defining between theman open-ended channel coeXtensive with said member and slidablyreceiving a portion of said strap, and the remaining structure providingvertically spaced grooves coextensive with said member which are open attheir ends and at said one sidewall through said slots, said groovesbeing adapted to slidably and removably receive lengths of the remainingportion of said strap through said slots and the open ends of saidgrooves to thereby shorten the overall length of said strap and positionsaid member substantially midway between the ends of said strap.

5. A combined shoulder strap and handgrip comprising an elongated strapadapted for connection at its ends to a carrying case, a handgripincluding an elongated member having at least one sidewall and a channeltherein coextensive therewith vand opening through the ends thereof,said channel receiving a portion `of said strap, a groove in said membercoextensive therewith and spaced from said channel, a slot through saidsidewall coextensve with said member and opening into said groove, saidgroove being adapted to removably receive a length of the remainingportion of said strap to thereby shorten the overall length of saidstrap and position said member substantially midway between the ends ofsaid strap.

6. A combined shoulder strap and handgrip comprising an elongated strapadapted for connection at its ends to a carrying case, a handgripincluding an elongated member having at least one sidewall and a channeltherein coextensive therewith and opening through the ends thereof, saidchannel receiving a portion of said strap, a groove in said membercoeXtensive therewith and spaced from said channel, a slot through saidsidewall coextensive with said member and opening into said groove, saidslot being narrower than the thickness of said strap, said groove beingadapted to slidably and removably receive a length of the remainingportion of said strap to thereby shorten the overall length of saidstrap and position said member substantially midway between the ends ofsaid strap.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 649,832 5/1900Furnivall. 2,041,691 5/1936 Becklin. 2,617,569 1l/l952 Sommer.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

F. WERNER, Assistant Examiner.

1. A COMBINED SHOULDER STRAP AND HANDGRIP COMPRISING AN ELONGATED STRAPADAPTED FOR CONNECTION AT ITS ENDS TO A CARRYING CASE, A HANDGRIPINCLUDING AN ELONGATED MEMBER HAVING A CHANNEL EXTENDING THERETHROUGHAND SLIDABLY RECEIVING ONE PORTION OF SAID STRAP, AND A PLURALITY OFVERCALLY SPACED GROOVES ABOVE SAID CHANNEL EXTENDING THROUGH SAID MEMBERAND OPENING THROUGH ONE SIDE THEREOF, SAID GROOVES BEING ADAPTED TOREMOVABLY RECEIVE LENGTH OF THE REMAINING PORTION OF SAID STRAP TOTHEREBY SHORTEN THE OVERALL LENGTH OF SAID STRAP AND POSITION SAIDMEMBER SUBSTANTIALLY MIDWAY BETWEEN THE ENS OF SAID STRAP.